Palestine High School Alumni Association

10 / 05 / 1929  –  04 / 08 / 200

Billy Gene Rankin, 73, of Palestine passed from this earth on April 8.  Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Bailey & Foster Chapel in Palestine.  Rev. Ron Sloan will officiate with a Masonic service and interment following at Roselawn Park.

Mr. Rankin was born October 5, 1929 in Palestine and lost a valiant and courageous battle with ALS, Lou Gherigs Disease at Palestine Regional Medical Center.   He was preceded in death by his parents Homer and Sadie Rankin; brothers, Ulon and Wilson Rankin and Garland Wilmoth; and a granddaughter, Ashley Beasley.

Mr. Rankin is survived by his loving wife, Melba Rankin of Palestine; sister, Mary Ellen Landrum of Tyler; children Linda and Dane Beasley of Orange Grove, Randy and Belinda Rankin of Spring and Ronnie and Deanna Rankin of Bulverde; grandchildren, Marc and Deanna Rankin of Cedar Park, Chris and Miki Rankin of Houston, Wesley and Jessica Rankin of Houston, Justin Rankin of Austin, Kathryn Beasley of Stephenville, Jeffery Kirkpatrick of Bulverde and Billy Rankin of Bulverde; and great-grandchildren, Monte Rankin and Jordyn Ashley Rankin of Houston.

Mr. Rankin was a member of Lone Pine Baptist Church, Masonic Lodge No. 31, Sharon Temple and the Anderson County Shrine Club.  He graduated from Palestine High School in 1948.  His 37 year railroad career began in 1948 while working in the claims department with the Interational Great Northern Railroad, the Texas and Pacific Railroad, The Missouri Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Marc Rankin, Chris Rankin, Wesley Rankin, Justin Rankin, Jeffery Kirkpatrick, Billy Rankin and David Nelson.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Muscular Dystrophy Association, Ind. ALS Research, 8111 LBJ Freeway No. 1095. Dallas Texas 75251 or Shrine Children’s Hospitals % Shriners International Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607

Source:  Palestine Herald Press